Wiper lever with a driven wiper arm and a wiper blade

ABSTRACT

Wiper lever ( 10 ) with a driven wiper arm ( 12 ) and a wiper blade ( 16 ) linked to it for cleaning windows, particularly those of motor vehicles, which is provided with a band-like, long-stretched-out, elastic supporting element ( 30 ), which features, on its lower band surface facing the window, a long-stretched-out, rubber elastic wiper strip ( 24 ) that can be applied to it, on whose upper band surface ( 29 ), particularly in the longitudinal middle area of the supporting element ( 30 ), a coupling part ( 32 ) is situated and wind deflector strip partial sections ( 52 ) extending to the ends of the supporting element are arranged on both sides of the coupling part ( 32 ). An especially harmonic transition between the wiper blade ( 16 ) and the wiper arm ( 12 ) is achieved in the area of the joint ( 46, 47 ) connecting these two wiper lever parts if the wiper lever ( 10 ) is provided with a cap ( 60 ) to cover the connection area between the wiper blade ( 16 ) and the wiper arm ( 12 ).

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No.10/416,842, filed May 16, 2003, which is a national stage filing under35 U.S.C. 371 of International Application No. PCT/DE01/04307, filedNov. 16, 2001, which claims priority to German Application No.10057253.7, filed Nov. 18, 2000, the entire contents of which areincorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In the case of a wiper lever of the type designated in thepre-characterizing clause of the independent claim, the supportingelement of the wiper blade is supposed to guarantee, over the entirewiper field being covered by the wiper blade, the most uniform possibledistribution of wiper blade application force on the window originatingfrom the wiper arm. Due to the corresponding curvature of the relaxedsupporting element—i.e., when the wiper blade is not adjacent to thewindow—the ends of the wiper strip that are placed completely againstthe window during wiper blade operation are loaded by the supportingelement that is stressed vis-à-vis the window, even when the radii ofcurvature of spherically curved vehicle windows change with every wiperblade position. As a result, the curvature of the wiper blade must besomewhat greater than the greatest curvature measured in the wiper fieldon the to-be-wiped window. The supporting element thereby replaces theexpensive supporting bracket design that is required to distribute theapplication force and that has two spring rails, which are arranged inthe wiper strip and are used for transverse reinforcement of the rubberelastic wiper strip, as is the practice with conventional wiper blades(DE-PS 1247 16 1).

In the case of a known wiper lever with a wiper blade where, for reasonsrelated to bearing pressure distribution, the supporting elementprojects in the wiper blade middle range far beyond the width of thewiper strip (DE-PS 1247161), the front side facing the air stream can beaffected by the build-up of excess pressure. On the other hand, aconsiderable negative pressure builds up on the rear side facing awayfrom the air stream due to the abovementioned wiper blade structure. Inoperation, though the wiper blade executing a pendulum motion constantlychanges its position relative to the inflowing air stream, its onelongitudinal side does indeed continually face this stream more or lessstrongly and is therefore designated as the front side while its otherlongitudinal side consequently is also viewed as the rear side. In thecombined action of these two previously mentioned pressures, both ofwhich are acting in the opposite direction of the wiper bladeapplication force, they are at least reduced at higher travel speeds sothat a proper wiper result is no longer possible. In order to remedythis unfavorable flow behavior, in the case of a known wiper lever inaccordance with the species (DE 198 56299.3 A1), a wind deflector stripwith a flow surface facing one of the main flow directions is arrangedon the upper band surface of the supporting element. This wind deflectorstrip has two sections or partial strips each of which extends from theconnecting device to the ends of the supporting element or the wiperblade. As a result, this produces a free space in the progression of thewind deflector strip for positioning the connecting device.Manufacturers of luxury class vehicles in particular object to thisoptical interruption of the wind deflector strip for reasons related tostyling. In addition, this interruption of the flow surface on the winddeflector strip contributes to an undesirable increase in air streamnoise due to the edges and gaps that are thereby produced.

It is true that adapting the cross-section of a holder situated in thelongitudinal middle area of the wiper blade on its upper band surfacefor two spring rails belonging to the supporting element to thecross-section of the wind deflector strip sections extending on bothsides of the holder is known in the case of the wiper lever according tothe species, but the means to connect the wiper blade to the wiper armare also completely free in this case so that this wiper lever,including a wiper arm and wiper blade, is also encumbered with thealready described disadvantages.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Due to the arrangement of the cap in the connection area between thewiper arm and the wiper blade, an elegant transition between the twowind deflector strip sections adjacent to the connecting device can beachieved via an appropriate formation of the cap. In doing so, it ispossible to adapt at least the cap sections, which can also cover theareas of these sections that are adjacent to them, to the shape of thewind deflector strip. Moreover, problem zones on the wiper lever thatoppose a laminar flow of the air stream and generate air stream noiseare thereby avoided. Finally, the cap protects the sensitive articulatedconnection between the wiper arm and the wiper blade againstenvironmental influences such as dirt from the road, snow, ice, etc.

A particularly simple adaptation of the cap to the embodiment of thewiper blade is possible if the cap is supported by the wiper blade, inparticular if it is locked to the wiper blade.

This can be achieved in a cost-effective manner by the cap that isU-shaped in cross-section being fabricated of an elastic plastic andbeing provided with elastically deflectable locking means, which areassigned to counter-locking means of the wiper blade.

If the wiper blade's counter-locking means are embodied on the outerlongitudinal edges of the band-like supporting element, no specialmeasures are required to embody the counter-locking means.

In order to obtain a stable, locking connection that can handle thepressure of the inflowing air stream, the cap is provided with at leastone support cooperating with the upper band surface of the supportingelement, whereby elastically deflectable locking noses that grip underthe supporting element and serve as locking means are formed on the cap.

With respect to the flexibility of the wiper blade or the supportingelement it can be particularly advantageous if, in the area of theholding claws of the coupling part serving as a connecting piece, thecap is provided, on its elastically deflectable inside wall, withclamp-like safety claws that grip over the holding claws.

Simple assembly of the wiper lever is produced if the cap is providedwith a passage opening for the wiper arm.

Because the wind deflector strip material ages over the course of time,something that goes hand in hand with a certain shrinkage, an air gapcan form between the cap and the front sides of the wind deflector strippartial sections that face it, which can lead to the already describeddisadvantages regarding the optical effect and the intensification ofnoise. This can be avoided in accordance with a development of theinvention with extensions on the cap that cover the end areas of thewind deflector strip partial sections that face them.

For optical reasons and for reasons related to the undesired generationof air stream noise, it can be advantageous if the cap is provided witha flute on its one longitudinal wall in continuation of the flow flutingof the wind deflector strip.

For certain application cases, it can be favorable if the cap issupported by the wiper arm.

Due to a pivoted arrangement of the cap on the wiper arm, the cap alwaysremains connected to the wiper arm and present. It can be moved betweentwo positions: the operating position and release position.

In order to secure the cap in its operating position, the wiper arm isprovided with rest receptacles that align with one another on oppositelongitudinal walls, which are assigned pivot pins arranged on the capwalls adjacent to the longitudinal walls.

A simple, suitable pivot arrangement is achieved for the cap if the capis manufactured of an elastic plastic and the pivot pins are arranged onelastically deflectable wall areas of the cap.

In order to secure the cap in its operating position, locking means areformed on the elastically deflectable wall areas of the cap, whichcooperate in the cap's operating position with counter-locking means onthe wiper arm.

In the case of a wiper lever in which the connection between the wiperarm and the wiper blade is accomplished via a sliding movement, wherebya stop shoulder of the wiper arm fixes the operating position with acounter-shoulder of the wiper blade, an unintentional release movementof the wiper blade from the wiper arm is safely avoided if a safety nosefacing the wiper blade is arranged on the cap, which nose engages inthis operating position and in the cap's operating position so that itfits in a safety recess on the wiper blade.

Additional advantageous further developments and designs of theinvention are disclosed in the following description of the exemplaryembodiments depicted in the associated drawing.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The drawings show:

FIG. 1—A side view that is not drawn true to scale of a wiper leverwhose wiper blade is provided with a wind deflector strip;

FIG. 2—An enlarged representation of a detail designated by II in FIG. 1with the cross-sectional surface of the wind deflector strip;

FIG. 3—A perspective representation of a cap belonging to the wiperlever;

FIG. 4—An enlarged depiction of the longitudinal section through the capalong line IV-IV in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5—A cross-section along line V-V through the arrangement inaccordance with FIG. 2;

FIG. 6—A cross-section along line VI-VI through another embodiment ofthe arrangement in accordance with FIG. 5;

FIG. 7—A representation of the wiper blade and cap vis-à-vis one anotherin a pre-assembly position;

FIG. 8—A partial section of the connection area of a wiper leverexecuted in another way;

FIG. 9—An reduced longitudinal section through the cap belonging to thedesign according to FIG. 8;

FIG. 10—A view of the cap according to FIG. 9 as seen in the directionof arrow X;

FIG. 11—An isometric representation from below of the connection-sideend of the wiper arm belonging to the embodiment according to FIG. 8;and

FIG. 12—A section of the wiper blade and wiper arm vis-à-vis one anotherin a pre-assembly position, whereby a partial region of the cap is drawnin the operating position with a dash-dotted line.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

A first exemplary embodiment of a wiper lever 10 according to theinvention (FIG. 1) includes a wiper arm 12 driven on one end and guidedon a motor vehicle (not shown here). The driven end of the wiper arm hasbeen assigned reference number 11 in FIG. 1. A long-stretched-out wiperblade 16 belonging to the wiper lever 10 is linked to the other, freeend 14 of the wiper arm. The wiper arm 12 is positioned on its drive end11 in such a way that it can move in a pendulum fashion between reversepositions around a pendulum axis 20 during wiper operation in a verticalplane on the drawing plane. In doing so, the wiper blade 16 is movedtransverse to its longitudinal extension over the to-be-wiped window,whereby it is adjacent to the surface 28 of the to-be-wiped window witha rubber elastic wiper strip 24. The wiper strip 24 is connectedparallel to its longitudinal axis with a band-like, long-stretched-out,elastic supporting element 30, on whose upper band surface 29 facingaway from the window a coupling part 32 is situated (FIGS. 5 and 7) viawhich the wiper blade 16 is connected to the wiper arm 12 in anarticulated manner to form the wiper lever. The wiper strip 24 istherefore arranged on the lower, window-facing band surface 31 of thesupporting element 30. The coupling part 32, whose cross-section isT-shaped in sections, faces the supporting element 30 with its T-head 34and grips around the outer longitudinal strips 40 of the supportingelement 30 that face away from one another with claws 38 arranged on theT-head. The coupling part 32 is connected to the supporting element 30at these claws, for example welded and/or fixed here to press the clawstogether. In the case of the embodiment, the supporting element 30includes two spring rails 42, which extend parallel to one another lyingin a common plane. The facing inner longitudinal strips 41 of the springrails 42 lie in the open-edge longitudinal grooves of the wiper strip24.

The T-foot 36 of the coupling part 32 extends away from the supportingelement 30 and is penetrated by an articulated bolt 46 whose two endsproject out of the T-foot, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6. The wiper arm 12(indicated with a dash-dotted line in FIGS. 5 and 6) engages at thisarticulated bolt or at its free ends with correspondingly embodied restrecesses. An adapter 48 that is preferably fabricated of plastic islocated between the T-foot 36 and the wiper arm 12, and this adapterguarantees an operationally reliable connection between wiper arm 12 andwiper blade 16 to form the wiper lever 10. FIGS. 5 and 6 show that thearticulated bolt 46 or its articulation axis 47 essentially extends inthe direction of the pendulum or work movement of the wiper lever 10. AsFIG. 1 shows, the to-be-wiped surface 28 of the window is curved. Sincethe line 28 is supposed to represent the greatest curvature of thewindow surface, it is clearly evident that the curvature of the stillrelaxed wiper blade 16 that is adjacent to the window surface at its twoends 18 is greater than the maximum curvature of the window. Under theapplication force acting in the direction of arrow 22 (FIG. 1) andexerted by the wiper arm 12, the wiper blade applies its rubber elasticwiper strip 24 arranged on the lower band surface 31 of supportingelement 30 to the window surface 28 over its entire length. In doing so,tension builds up in the elastic supporting element 30 fabricated ofmetal and this tension is responsible for the proper application of thewiper strip 24 over its entire length on the window, as well as for auniform distribution of the application force 22. Moreover, the springrails 42 of the supporting element 30 are responsible for the requiredtransverse stabilization of the rubber elastic wiper strip 24. Becausethe normally spherically curved window does not represent a section of aspherical surface, the wiper blade 16 must be able to constantly adaptto the respective position and progression of the window surface 28vis-à-vis the wiper arm 12 during its wiper operation. For this reason,a smooth-running articulated connection between the wiper arm 12 and thewiper blade 16 that enables an oscillation motion around the pivot pinaxis 47 is required. Furthermore, FIG. 1, in connection with FIG. 5,shows that the articulation axis 47 is also aligned transverse to thedirection of the application force (arrow 22). FIGS. 1, 2 and 7 showthat the wiper blade is provided on the upper band surface 29 of thesupporting element 30 with a wind deflector strip 50 connected with thewiper strip 24 for example, and this wind defector strip includes twopartial sections 52 that are at a distance 54 from one another as seenin the longitudinal direction of the wiper blade (FIG. 7). A free space56 in the wind deflector strip 50 is thereby produced, which facilitatesthe arrangement of the coupling part 32 on the supporting element 30.The wind deflector strip 50 is provided with a flow fluting 58 on itsone longitudinal side against which the air stream mainly flows (FIG.2). In order to cover the articulated connection between the wiper arm10 and the wiper blade 12 or between its coupling part 32 and to achievea harmonic transition between the facing ends of the partial sections 52of the wind deflector strip 50, the wiper lever 10 also has a cap 60whose structure is supposed to be explained on the basis of FIGS. 3 and4 in particular. The cap has a trough-shaped middle section 62, whosetrough base is largely removed so that a passage opening 64 is produced.As FIG. 3 in particular shows, extensions 70 that project beyond the twotransverse end walls 66 and 68 are adjacent and their shapes are adaptedto the cross-sectional shape of the wind deflector strip 50 and theyalso feature a flow fluting 59. The two longitudinal walls 72 of the cap60 that is manufactured of an elastic plastic are provided withelastically deflectable locking means, which are embodied as lockingnoses 74 in the exemplary embodiment. In this connection, two lockingnoses 74 are each arranged at a distance from one another on eachlongitudinal wall 72 and the locking noses of the two longitudinal walls72 are opposite one another in pairs (FIGS. 3 and 5). In addition,supporting or reinforcing walls 76 are arranged on each longitudinalwall, in particular between the locking noses 74, and the walls extendessentially from the passage opening 64 until close to the trough edge78 of the cap 60. The one transverse wall 68 of the cap 60 is providedwith a channel 80, which extends from the passage opening 64 over asmall partial section to the trough edge 78 and terminates at the end ofthe extension 70. The ends of the supporting rips 76 facing the troughedge 78 are recessed matching the width of the supporting element 30 sothat supports 82 are produced. A flute 94 is also embodied on the onelongitudinal wall 72 of the cap 60 in continuation of the flow fluting58 of the wind deflector strip 50 or in continuation of the flow fluting59 on the extensions 70.

Assembling the cap on the wiper blade shall be explained in thefollowing on the basis of FIGS. 5 and 7.

As can be seen from the pre-assembly position in FIG. 7, the entirelength 84 of the cap including its extensions 70 is greater than thedistance 54 between the two partial sections 52 of the wind deflectorstrip 50. This is caused by the two extensions 70. Starting from thepre-assembly position (FIG. 7), the cap 60 is placed on the wiper blade16 in the direction of the arrow 86. During the placement movement, thelocking nose 74 deflects in the direction of the arrow 90 in FIG. 5because of its shape, for example the formation of starting bevels, 88,when the starting bevels 88 hit against the longitudinal strips 40 ofthe supporting element 30. The deflection can be achieved either viacertain cross-sectional modifications to the locking nose that are knownto the specialist and/or by an elastic deflection of the longitudinalwalls 72 of the cap 60. The assembly movement (arrow 86) of the cap isended when the supports 82 on the supporting rips 76 are sitting at theupper band surface 29 of the supporting element 30. In this position thelocking noses 74 can spring back into their initial position, becausethe outer longitudinal strips 40 of the supporting element 30 can reachinto the rear sections 92 of the locking noses 74, whereby the lockingnoses grip under the supporting element 30 and thereby bring about asecure fit of the cap 60 onto the wiper blade 16. In the operatingposition of the cap 60 that is now achieved, the extensions 70 of thecap each cover the facing end sections of the partial sections 52 of thewind deflector strip 50. Since the shape of the extensions essentiallyrepresents a continuation of the contour of the wind deflector strip 50,a harmonic transition between the wind deflector strip and the cap isguaranteed. In addition, the middle section 62 can also be provided withat least a slight flute 94 in accordance with the respective spatialpossibilities so that a cap with a flow-favorable surface is produced,which can contribute to the quiet operation of the wiper lever 10.

After the cap has been connected to the wiper blade, further assembly ofthe wiper lever can take place by the free end 14 of the wiper arm 12being guided through the passage opening 64 thereby producing thearticulated connection. Depending upon the design of the articulatedconnection, however, it can also be necessary to first stick the wiperarm through the passage opening 64 of the still loose cap, creating thearticulated connection, and then lock the cap on the wiper blade in thedescribed manner.

An alternative possibility for fastening the cap 100 to the wiper lever10 is shown in FIG. 6. In contrast to the embodiment just described inwhich the locking noses 74 engage on the supporting element 30 andtherefore must be placed next to the claws 38 of the coupling part 32,the safety claws or holding claws 102 of the cap 100 grip around theclaws 38 of the coupling part 32. They are therefore placed and formedin such a way that they act upon the wiper blade in accordance with thearrangement according to FIG. 6. The assembly of the cap 100 correspondsin terms of its sequence to the assembly of the cap 60 according to FIG.5. One advantage of the embodiment according to FIG. 6 can lie in thefact that only the claws 38 of the coupling part 32 act upon thesupporting element 30 so that no additional reinforcement of the middlesection of the supporting element 30 is achieved. The cap 100 in FIG. 6corresponds in all additional characteristics to the cap 60 in FIGS. 3and 5. The structure of the wiper lever also corresponds to the abovedescription.

It is clear from the foregoing description that the cap 60 is providedwith elastically extendible locking means 74 or 102, which are assignedto counter-locking means 40 or 38 of the wiper blade 16.

A second embodiment of the wiper lever, in accordance with theinvention, is explained in the following on the basis of FIGS. 8 through12. A wiper arm 122 and a wiper blade 124 belong to a wiper lever 120.The wiper arm has a U-shaped cross-section (FIG. 11), in the area of thearticulated connection between the wiper arm and the wiper blade. TheU-shaped cross-section has U-legs 126 that form longitudinal walls wheretongues 128 have been cut free and bent into the space between theU-legs. The arrangement of the bent tongues 128 is accomplished so thatthey lie across from one another and are directed opposite one another.FIG. 11 also shows that an opening 132 is arranged near the free end 134of the wiper arm 122 on its U-base surface 130. Finally, FIG. 11 alsoshows that, on the other side of the bent tongue pairs 128 (as viewedfrom the wiper-arm end 134), there is a borehole 136 in each of theU-legs 126, whose borehole axes are aligned with each other. Only asmall partial section of the wiper blade 124 belonging to the wiperlever 120 is depicted in FIG. 12, which shows the wiper-blade sidecomponents for connecting the wiper blade to the wiper arm 122. A holder138 for an articulated bolt 140, aligned transverse to the wiper bladelongitudinal extension, is arranged on the upper side of the wiper blade124 facing the wiper arm 122. An adapter 142 is locked onto thearticulated bolt in a manner that is known per se. This results in anarticulated arrangement of the adapter 142 vis-à-vis the wiper blade,whereby the longitudinal axis of the articulated bolt 140 represents thearticulated axis. Thus, the wiper blade 124 can oscillate freely withina certain angle around the articulation axis of the articulated bolt 140(double arrow 144 in FIG. 12). The adapter 142, manufactured of anelastic plastic, is provided on both its longitudinal ends 146 withfitting surfaces 148, 149, which are at a distance 150 from one anothercorresponding to the distance 152 between the inside wall of the U-basesurface 130 and the bent tongues' 128 surface 154 that faces this insidesurface (FIG. 12). Therefore, the distance 150 of the fitting surfaces148, 149 from one another corresponds to the thickness of the adapter142 in the area of these fitting surfaces. FIG. 12 also shows that astop shoulder 156 directed toward the wiper blade 124 comes out of thefitting surface 149 of the adapter 142 and that a receptacle opening 158is arranged in the adapter 142.

In addition, a cap 160 also belongs to the wiper lever 120. It isevident from FIGS. 9 and 10 that this cap has an essentially U-shapedcross-section. The distance 161 between the two U-legs 162 iscoordinated with the width 121 of the wiper arm 122. In addition, FIGS.9 and 10 show that the U-legs 162 extend beyond the U-base 164 withextensions 163. Since the cap 160 is manufactured of an elastic plastic,the extensions 163 can be elastically deflected transverse to thelongitudinal extension of the U-legs 162. Aligned pivot pins 166 whosepin axes are aligned with one another are located on the facing innersides of the extensions 163. The diameter of the pivot pins 166 iscoordinated with the diameter of the two boreholes 136 in the U-legs 126of the wiper arm 122 in such a way that the cap 160 can lock onto thewiper arm with deflection of the extensions 163 in the direction ofarrows 167 (FIG. 10), whereby the pivot pins 166 reach into theboreholes 136 in the wiper arm U-legs 126 that serve as restreceptacles. The arrangement of and coordination between the wiper arm122 and the cap 160 are accomplished in such a way that a rotatingmovement (arrow 168, FIG. 12) between the wiper arm and the cap ispossible, because the distances 121 and 161 have been coordinated witheach other. A locking nose 170 is arranged on each U-leg as a lockingmeans at a distance from the pivot pins 166 near the other end of thecap 160 on the insides of the U-legs 162, whereby the two locking nosesare opposite one another and extend towards each other. A safety nose172, which extends out from the inside of the U-base 164 between the twoU-legs 162, is arranged in this area of the cap 160 on its U-base 164.The wiper blade 124 corresponds, in terms of its further structure, tothe wiper blade 16 already described.

As already mentioned, the cap 160 is connected in an articulated mannerwith the wiper arm 122 in the described manner. It is therefore pivotedon the wiper arm and is a part of the wiper arm. The pivoted arrangementbetween the wiper arm and the cap is achieved in that boreholes or restreceptacles 136 that are aligned with one another are arranged on thewiper arm on the U-legs 126 forming opposite longitudinal walls. Pivotpins or bearing pins 166 arranged on the cap walls (formed by the U-legs162) close to these longitudinal walls are assigned to these boreholesor rest receptacles. In order to connect the wiper blade 124 to thewiper arm 122, the two wiper lever parts 122, 124 must be brought intothe pre-assembly position shown in FIG. 12. Then the wiper blade ismoved towards the wiper arm in the direction of the assembly arrow 174until the adapter 142 is adjacent to the inner wall of the U-basesurface 130 of the wiper arm. Now the wiper blade is slid in thedirection of arrow 176 towards the free end 134 of the wiper arm,whereby the fitting surfaces 148, 149 of the adapter reach between thebent tongues 128 of the wiper arm or its surfaces 154 and wiper arm'sU-base surface 130. The sliding movement (arrow 176) is limited by thefact that the stop shoulder 156 of the adapter hits the side (facing theadapter) of the bent tongue 128 that is located on the wiper-arm end 134and that serves as a counter-stop shoulder 157. In this position, thewiper blade 124 has now reached its operating position vis-à-vis thewiper arm 122. In order to guarantee this position during wiperoperation, the cap 160 is turned in the direction of the arrow 168,whereby the safety nose 172 is guided through the opening 132 andreaches into the receptacle opening 158 of the adapter 142. Thecoordination between the safety nose 172 and the two openings 132 and158 is accomplished in such a way that the rotating movement of the cap160 is not hampered by the opening 132, but that the safety nose 172dips so that it fits into the receptacle opening 158 of the adapter 142that forms a safety recess. As a result, a relative movement between thewiper arm and wiper blade is no longer possible. So that the cap 160does not unintentionally move against rotating arrow 168 during wiperoperation and the safety feature between the wiper arm and the wiperblade cannot be neutralized, in the operating position depicted in FIG.8 the cap's 160 locking noses 170 grip under the counter-surfaces 180 ofthe wiper arm 122 that have been assigned to them and act ascounter-locking means, which counter-surfaces are embodied on the benttongues 128. As FIG. 8 shows, the cap 160 also covers the end areas ofthe wind deflector strip sections 52 that are close to it. Inparticular, the free end 182 of the cap 160 facing away from the pivotpins 166 (FIG. 12) is adapted to the cross-sectional profile of the winddeflector strip 50 in such a way that a harmonic transition is producedbetween the wind deflector strip and the cap.

It is also clearly evident from the foregoing description that the twodesigns of the wiper lever are provided with a cap 60 or 160 to coverthe connection area between the wiper blade and the wiper arm. Theadvantages that are thereby yielded can be seen primarily in that thecap guarantees a harmonic transition between the two wind deflectorstrip sections 52 while simultaneously concealing the mechanics of thearticulation and protecting the articulation from environmentalinfluences.

1-18. (canceled)
 19. A wiper blade (16) for cleaning windows, inparticular of motor vehicles, the wiper blade being provided with anelastic supporting element (30) which is elongated in the manner of aband and, on a lower band surface (31) facing a window (28), has anelongated, rubber elastic wiper strip (24) which can be placed againstthe window, and, on an upper band surface (29), in particular in thelongitudinal middle area of the supporting element, there is a couplingpart (32) for connecting the wiper blade (16) to a wiper arm (12), andthe wiper blade (16) is provided with a cap (60, 160) to cover theconnection area between the wiper blade (16) and the wiper arm (12),wherein the covering cap (60), which is approximately U-shaped incross-section, is fabricated of an elastic plastic and is provided withelastically deflectable locking means (74), which are assigned tocounter-locking means (40) of the wiper blade, characterized in that thecovering cap (60) has a trough-shaped central section (62) with alargely removed trough bottom, resulting in a passage opening (64) forpassage of a free end (14) of the wiper arm (12), and the locking means(74) are integrally formed on longitudinal walls (72) of the coveringcap (60, 160) and the longitudinal walls (72) deflect elastically duringlocking.
 20. The wiper blade as claimed in claim 19, characterized inthat the locking means (74) have run-on slopes (88).
 21. The wiper bladeas claimed in claim 19, characterized in that supporting or stiffeningwalls (76) are arranged on each longitudinal wall (72).
 22. The wiperblade as claimed in claim 21, characterized in that the supporting orstiffening walls (76) are arranged between the locking means (74). 23.The wiper blade as claimed in claim 19, characterized in that thecounter-locking means of the wiper blade (16) are embodied on the outerlongitudinal edges (40) of the band-like supporting element (30). 24.The wiper blade as claimed in claim 19, characterized in that thecovering cap (60) is provided with at least one support (82) cooperatingwith the upper band surface (29) of the supporting element, and in thatelastically deflectable locking noses (74) that grip under thesupporting element (30) and serve as locking means are formed on thecovering cap (60).
 25. The wiper blade as claimed in claim 19,characterized in that the counter-locking means of the wiper blade (16)are embodied on holding claws (38) of the coupling part (32), with whichthe coupling part is fixed to the supporting element (30).
 26. The wiperblade as claimed in claim 25, characterized in that, in the area of theholding claws (38) of the coupling part (32), the covering cap (100) isprovided, on its elastically deflectable inside wall, with clamp-likesafety claws (102) that grip over the holding claws (38).
 27. The wiperblade as claimed in claim 19, characterized in that the covering cap(60) is provided with a passage opening (64) for the wiper arm (12). 28.The wiper blade as claimed in claim 19, characterized in that indeflector strip partial sections (52) extending to the ends of thesupporting element are arranged on both sides of the coupling part, andin that, on its longitudinal ends, the covering cap (60) covers the endareas of the wind deflector strip partial sections (52) that face itwith extensions (70).
 29. The wiper blade as claimed in claim 19,characterized in that the covering cap (60) is provided with a flute(94) on its one longitudinal wall (72) in continuation of flow fluting(58) on the wind deflector strip (50).
 30. The wiper blade as claimed inclaim 19, characterized in that the covering cap (160) is supported bythe wiper arm (122).
 31. The wiper blade as claimed in claim 30,characterized in that the covering cap (160) is pivoted on the wiper arm(122).
 32. The wiper blade as claimed in claim 31, characterized in thatthe wiper arm (122) is provided with rest receptacles (136) that alignwith one another on opposite longitudinal walls (126), which areassigned pivot pins (166) arranged on the cap walls (162, 163) adjacentto the longitudinal walls.
 33. The wiper blade as claimed in claim 32,characterized in that the covering cap (160) is manufactured of anelastic plastic, and in that the pivot pins (166) are arranged onelastically extendable wall areas (163) of the covering cap.
 34. Thewiper blade as claimed in claim 32, characterized in that the lockingmeans (170) are formed on the elastically deflectable wall areas (163)of the covering cap (160), which cooperate in an operating position ofthe covering cap (160) with counter-locking means (180) on the wiper arm(122).
 35. The wiper blade as claimed in claim 30, in which theconnection between the wiper arm (122) and the wiper blade (124) isaccomplished via a sliding movement (arrow 176), whereby a stop shoulder(156) of the wiper arm fixes an operating position by cooperating with acounter-shoulder (157) of the wiper blade, characterized in that asafety nose (172) assigned to the wiper blade (124) is arranged on thecovering cap (160), which nose engages in the operating position and inan operating position of the covering cap (160) so that it fits in asafety recess (158) on the wiper blade.
 36. A windshield wiper apparatuscomprising a wiper blade (16) for cleaning a motor vehicle window (28),the wiper blade including a band-like, elongated, elastic supportingelement (30) having a longitudinal middle area, a coupling part on thelongitudinal middle area, the coupling part to connect the wiper bladeto a wiper arm (12), a lower band surface (31) having thereon aelongated, rubber elastic wiper strip (24), wind deflector strip partialsections (52) extending to the ends of the supporting element andarranged on both sides of the coupling part, a cap (60 or 160) to coverthe coupling part, the cap having cap sections that cover adjacent areasof the wind deflector strip partial sections (52), the cap sectionshaving a shape complementary to the shape of the wind deflector strip.